For Africa North of the Equator ie The Sahel, describe fully the main human causes of land

degradation.
1996 (1997) 1999 2000 18marks
Remember place names Wrong location 9 marks

Population growth is occurring in countries eg Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali

placing greater pressure on the finite resources available to produce more
food. This had contributed to a number of factors which have led to LD in
the Sahel.

Overcultivation/overcropping is a consequence of arable farmers being

forced to increase yields from their land. As a result fallow periods are
reduced, marginal land is cultivated and the soil becomes depleted of its’
nutrients. This along with unreliable rainfall leads to LD.

Overgrazing: more people has meant a rise in herd numbers and

subsequent overgrazing when more animals are allowed to graze than
pasture can support, particularly around drinking sources. Vegetation is
stripped to the roots exposing the soil to wind and water erosion.
Also, compaction of the soil reduces infiltration rates and increases
overland flow.

Deforestation to fuel domestic fires in areas like the Ethiopian Highlands

removes the binding effects of tree roots, reduces interception so
allowing intense tropical rainfall to erode the soil, and slows the hot sun to
bake the soils. Wind will be allowed to blow uninterrupted. In addition,
water and nutrient cycles will be interrupted further contributing to LD.
Cattle dung is being used as a fuel instead of a fertiliser, further degrading
soils as they are deprived of essential minerals.

In some areas burning of bush also takes place to clear land for arable
farming again exposing soils to wind and water erosion.

Urbanisation with the growth of large settlements like Niamey in Niger

has also increased demands for fuelwood.

The growth of cash crops has resulted in monoculture which can render
the soils infertile as particular minerals are removed from the soils year after
year.
In addition, poor farmers have been forced to farm marginal land for food
crops as the best land is used for cash crops.
In Niger, water from the River Niger used to irrigate rice which may lead to
salinisation and LD.

In Burkina Faso, nomads have been forced to settle due to droughts (and
Politics) rducing their grazing areas. This has resulted in pressure on
meagre soil resources close to settlements and overcultivation.